The moral test of a society is how that society treats those who are at the dawn of life - the children; those who are in the twilight of life - the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life - the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.
-Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978)

The Shell Children's Humanitarian Project

In the fall of 1998, humanitarian projects were added to the diverse set of options offered to students registered for the ME 481 Capstone design projects course. These special projects have triggered the development of unique devices to improve the quality of life for children affected by a range of diseases such as cerebral palsy or static encephalopathy.

This humanitarian initiative is part of a more eclectic, broader educational directive. One that extends beyond the confines of the classical engineering curriculum to include character development, leadership, citizenship, and service. With these types of projects, our students abundantly give of themselves in an emotionally charged environment but they are, in turn, showered with the numerous gifts associated with service to other human beings.

These projects require considerable entrepreneurial spirit, inventiveness and, of course, considerable innovation because they lack the dedicated support of a commercial enterprise: a manufacturer. However it is this very thing, this practical innovation, which was primarily responsible for America becoming preeminent while other nations failed. Thus we strive to foster that traditional American ingenuity that has served us so well for over 200 years.

In the past, these projects have been unfunded, but we are now delighted to announce that the Shell Oil Company has decided to underwrite this segment of our design program. We heartily applaud their generosity and implicit vision in their decision! On behalf of all the children that will benefit from this donation, and of course their parents, who will witness the recovery or enhanced performance of their child. Thank You!